Print medium stacking unit and image forming apparatus with the same

Abstract

A paper stacking unit and an image forming apparatus having the same, the paper stacking unit including: a base frame supporting a print media, a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting the print media together with the base frame, and a plate connected to the cover for auxiliarily supporting the print media.

1. A print medium stacking unit for an image forming apparatus, the print medium stacking unit comprising:
 a base frame supporting at least a portion of a print medium to be supplied to the image forming apparatus; 
 a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting at least a portion of the print medium together with the base frame; and 
 a plate connected to the cover to auxiliarily support the print medium; 
 wherein the plate is expandable from the cover to support various sizes of print media with the cover and the base frame, and the cover forms a portion of an external appearance of the image forming apparatus when the cover covers a front open surface of the image forming apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base frame comprises a connecting portion connected to the cover. 
     
     
       3. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the base frame further comprises a pivot restricting portion restricting a movement of the cover. 
     
     
       4. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the movement of the cover is restricted to within a range of an acute angle with respect to the base frame. 
     
     
       5. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a connection boss formed at the cover is accommodated into a hole formed in the connection portion. 
     
     
       6. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the connection portion includes a connection boss which is accommodated into a hole formed in the cover. 
     
     
       7. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of connection portions are provided on the base frame, each of the connection portions including one of a hole formed therein and a connection boss. 
     
     
       8. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of connection portions are provided on the base frame at regular intervals. 
     
     
       9. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plate is slidably connected to the cover. 
     
     
       10. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plate is pivotally connected to the cover. 
     
     
       11. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the plate pivots in a vertical direction with respect to a plane of the cover. 
     
     
       12. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first size print medium fits within a body of the image forming apparatus which is expandable to hold larger sizes of print medium. 
     
     
       13. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the print medium stacking unit is detachably mounted to a body of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover forms a front surface of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the print medium stacking unit is a supply unit of the print medium or a discharge unit of the print medium. 
     
     
       16. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the print medium stacking unit functions as both a supply unit of the print medium and a discharge unit of the print medium. 
     
     
       17. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is connected to a body of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       18. The print medium stacking unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base frame and a body of the image forming apparatus are formed integrally. 
     
     
       19. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a body comprising a scanning unit and/or a printing unit, the scanning unit scanning a document and inputting an image of the document to the printing unit and the printing unit printing the image; and 
 a print medium stacking unit comprising:
 a base frame supporting at least a portion of a print medium to be supplied to the image forming apparatus; 
 a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting at least a portion of the print medium together with the base frame; and 
 a plate connected to the cover to auxiliarily support the print medium; 
 
 wherein the plate is expandable from the cover to support various sizes of print media with the cover and the base frame, and the cover forms a portion of an external appearance of the image forming apparatus when the cover covers a front open surface of the image forming apparatus. 
 
     
     
       20. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the base frame comprises a connecting portion connected to the cover. 
     
     
       21. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the base frame further comprises a pivot restricting portion restricting a movement of the cover. 
     
     
       22. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the movement of the cover is restricted to within a range of an acute angle with respect to the base frame. 
     
     
       23. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a connection boss formed at the cover is accommodated into a hole formed in the connection portion. 
     
     
       24. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the connection portion includes a connection boss which is accommodated into a hole formed in the cover. 
     
     
       25. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a plurality of connection portions are provided on the base frame, each of the connection portions including one of a hole formed therein and a connection boss. 
     
     
       26. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of connection portions are provided on the base frame at regular intervals. 
     
     
       27. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the plate is slidably connected to the cover. 
     
     
       28. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the plate is pivotally connected to the cover. 
     
     
       29. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the plate pivots in a vertical direction with respect to a plane of the cover. 
     
     
       30. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a first size print medium fits within the body of the image forming apparatus which is expandable to hold larger sizes of print medium. 
     
     
       31. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the print medium stacking unit is detachably mounted to the body of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       32. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the cover forms a front surface of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       33. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the print medium stacking unit is a supply unit of the print medium or a discharge unit of the print medium. 
     
     
       34. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the print medium stacking unit functions as both a supply unit of the print medium and a discharge unit of the print medium. 
     
     
       35. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the base frame is connected to the body of the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       36. The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the base frame and a body of the image forming apparatus are formed integrally.